A Father’s Example
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline, t
and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
2 for I am giving you good instruction. u
Don’t abandon my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender and precious to my mother,
“Your heart must hold on to my words.
Keep my commands and live. v
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; w
don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.
6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;
love her, x and she will guard you.
7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding. y
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you. z
9 She will place a garland of favor on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty.” a
Two Ways of Life
10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, b
and you will live many years. c
11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;
I am guiding you on straight paths. d
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; e
when you run, you will not stumble. f
13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. g
Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Keep off the path of the wicked; h
don’t proceed on the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it, and pass it by.
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble. i
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, j
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; k
they don’t know what makes them stumble. l
The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings. m
21 Don’t lose sight of them; n
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else, W
for it is the source of life. o
24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, p
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze X straight ahead. q
26 Carefully consider the path Y for your feet, r
and all your ways will be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left; s
keep your feet away from evil.